A Pragmatic Study of the Impact of a Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Prisoners and Staff in a Category B Prison and Men Subject to Community-Based Probation Supervision

OBJECTIVES: This article presents two studies assessing the impact of mindfulness in prison (prisoners and staff) and non-custodial settings. METHOD: Study 1—prisoners (n = 17) and staff (n = 15) in a UK prison completed a mindfulness program; 16 individuals acted as a single time point comparison. Data were collected using self-report, computer based and physiological measurement. Study 2—men under community probation supervision were allocated to mindfulness (completed, n = 28) or TAU (n = 27). Data were collected using self-report mindfulness measures. RESULTS: Study 1—statistically significant (increases in mindfulness skills (η(2)(p) = .234 to η(2)(p) = .388), cognitive control (η(2)(p) = .28), and heart rate variability (SDNN; η(2)(p) = .41) along with significant decreases in stress (η(2)(p) = .398) were found. In study 2, the mindfulness group showed non-significant improvements in mindfulness skills. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest brief mindfulness interventions could make an important contribution to offender rehabilitation and custodial staff wellbeing.